After Career Change, Young Exec Finding Success in Polk

Jeff Kincart, vice president of A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, has been a pilot since 1991. Troubled eyesight and financial problems moved him to work for his family's business.

By KYLE KENNEDYTHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | Jeff Kincart says running a business is a lot like flying a plane."You have all your systems in place and your gauges, things are happening and you're going to Point B, but if you're not one step ahead of the aircraft, you're going to get behind," said Kincart, 39, vice president of Bartow-based A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure. And similar to flying, "I'm thinking about tomorrow because I want to make sure the company is crossing the paths we're designing for it," Kincart said.It's not surprising he thinks that way. Kincart was once on track for a career as a pilot before changing course and joining the family business at A-C-T. "I think in the end it was the right decision," he said.In August, Kincart was honored as one of Polk County's Emerging Leaders, a recognition from the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce that spotlights local business people ages 21 to 40. Kincart works alongside his father, Rob, who founded A-C-T in 1987. He also serves as president of Kincart Construction Company, a full-service commercial and industrial firm he started in Bartow nearly a decade ago.Outside of work, he volunteers a lot of time as a board member for organizations such as Polk State College's Corporate College, the Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Polk Vision and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra. He's also a married father of three children who still finds a little time to play the cello. "He's concerned about maintaining a good business, but he keeps a good balance and maintains a foundation as a father and family member," said John Leenhouts, president and CEO of the Sun ‘n Fun aviation organization. Leenhouts serves with Kincart on the City of Lakeland's Airport Advisory Board."He's honest and trustworthy. Quite candidly, he's like an adult Boy Scout," Leenhouts said. Born in Jacksonville, Kincart grew up in Lakeland and attended Lakeland High School before finishing high school in Texas. He headed to Daytona for college, enrolling at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with the goal of becoming an airline pilot.He had once dreamed of flying fighter planes in the Air Force, but eyesight problems ruled that out. Economic concerns would change his airline plans, too."I was in flight school; this was back in the early '90s, and the market for airline pilots was bad at the time. Embry Riddle was very expensive ... not having a job when you get out of college would have been a tough thing for me to do," he said. "So I came back to Polk County to try and figure out what I wanted to do at that point."Encouraged by his father, he went to work at A-C-T, doing field jobs like cleaning up chemical spills and removing storage tanks. "It was (working with) a truck and a shovel, so I learned this business from getting dirty," he said. "My dad taught me when I was young, if you work hard and keep a good attitude, you can achieve anything. So all the times I was working out in the field, I always knew in my mind where I wanted to be, and I never wanted any special handouts."Kincart went on to earn an associate's degree from Polk Community College (now Polk State College) and then his engineering degree from the University of South Florida. He also became a licensed contractor and started Kincart Construction in 2003. He still gets to log some flight time, using A-C-T's company plane for work travel.One of his goals for A-C-T is to expand the company's focus to have a nationwide reach."He just loves building businesses," Rob Kincart said. "He's got incredible credentials. I'm just really proud of him."Jeff Kincart said he thinks Polk County has a bright future ahead, from educational developments such as the area's high school career academies to lively downtowns and a variety of outdoor and cultural amenities. As for being named an Emerging Leader, he's adjusting to the extra attention that comes with it."I don't necessarily like being out front. I usually like being a behind-the-scenes guy who makes things go," Kincart said. "But it is an absolute honor to have been selected for that [Emerging Leaders]. The people who are involved in putting me there, I'm grateful for them."

[ Kyle Kennedy can be reached at kyle.kennedy@theledger.com or 863-802-7584. ]